Submit a Lifesaver!

What helps you juggle work and family? What's your favorite quick stress reducer? Have you found a way to squeeze in some 'me' time into your busy schedule? Share your tips!

This may sound a little silly but my husband bought me a ROOMBA automatic carpet cleaner and I first I thought, "this is probably a piece of junk with shiny buttons...there's no way it can clean a carpet!" Well, much to my surprise ROOMBA actually does work. I love that I can turn it on, close the door (block off entries that I don't want it to go in or under) and let it do its thing. This saves me time and I think it's worth the purchase.
Thiema”

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When tired, sleep. Just sleep - turn off the phone, leave the dirty dishes, just sleep. I am now way past mommying (my daughters are 38 and 42 and new moms themselves) but this is what saved me when they were young. I was in a way fortunate in that I could not function with not enough sleep, so it was essential for me. Pretend it's essential for you too. Because lack of sleep is bad for your face and bad for your health.

Hi moms! Just to share with you, here is a stress reducer I use almost daily since this summer : it's a single app for iOS devices but is really a smart idea! Just like your mood lamp except you can bring it anywhere. I use to relax with it, my children love it, and you can even use it as a nightlight ! This is the 'lifesaver' part, it helped me more than once with children when not at home. I wish app developers have more often such good stuff to offer ! Enjoy and have a good day, Lili

Be aware of your own emotions and energy levels. It's nigh on impossible for many of us to take a day or even a whole hour to ourselves so make of list of small activities you can do in 10 minutes that recharge you. It could be you sit for 10 minutes reading before going into the office, go for a walk around the block at lunchtime, schedule a 10 minute chat with a friend - whatever it is that sustains and rejuvenates you. Then when you can feel yourself in need of a quick pick me up - do one of your 10 minute recharges.
try and work up to fitting in 3 per day - that's 30 minutes to yourself! Find creative ways to do it - come on, we can all find 10 minutes!

I am fortunate enough to have a best friend who's been in my life since I was five. Our mothers went to nursing school together, we attended the same small neighborhood church and went to the same school from Kindergarten through high school graduation, and were in each other's weddings. She knows me better than anyone else on the planet and vice versa. The kind of soul mates who can abbreviate an entire explanation using a single word or name from the past. But she lives 90 minutes away. So, every six months we meet in the middle for dinner to celebrate our respective birthdays. Just the two of us...no husbands, no kids, no interruptions...just two best friends laughing about the good times, crying about the tough ones, and swapping secrets. No matter how broke we are or how busy we get, we make this night happen twice a year. When I know I've got that on my calendar, I can get through just about anything!

This may sound a little silly but my husband bought me a ROOMBA automatic carpet cleaner and I first I thought, "this is probably a piece of junk with shiny buttons...there's no way it can clean a carpet!" Well, much to my surprise ROOMBA actually does work. I love that I can turn it on, close the door (block off entries that I don't want it to go in or under) and let it do its thing. This saves me time and I think it's worth the purchase.
Thiema

I have 2 year old triplets and a three year old all boys and I was about to go crazy. I was frustrated with my weight this long after having the babies and totally stressed about doing the same thing everyday (wake up, dress, breakfast, work, come home, screaming kids, dinner, bath, bed, flop on couch...). We joined our local YMCA and now go EVERYDAY! It was only $59 a month with free kidzone and classes so everyone gets a break. The kids get to play with other kids and get out of the house and my husband and I do our own thing for an hour. LIFESAVER!! (Lost 27 lbs so far since Nov.)

It's not a "lifesaver" in that it doesn't save me time, but I wanted to say that I still just LOVE the "my day snapshot" here on WIM. It's such a great way to stay motivated, and then go back later and see little snippets of my life as a working mom. LOVE IT.

When my husband makes a smoothie in the morning, I have him double up and then pour the extra into popsicle makers. Later, when the kids want a snack, they think they're getting a popsicle treat, whereas I know it's actually healthy!